This week has been a recess week, so I have been busy out and about across our electorate meeting businesses and constituents.
Over the weekend it was great to be at our National Party Conference in Christchurch with our large, energised team from across the country as we build momentum for 2026. I enjoyed speaking about the “View from the Backbench” with Cameron Brewer.
We gave some interesting insights into our jobs as backbench MPs and how our very strong backbench navigates many bills into law.
OUT AND ABOUT
Family fun at the cinema
I am thrilled Family Night Fridays are back in Hastings!
It was great to be part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony and officially open Cineverse, Hastings.
Owner Prabhi Dugh went to school here at Hastings Boys, went away to university and is now back opening his new business to bring the Hawke's Bay community together.
Congratulations to him and his family for investing in this amazing cinema for our Hawke’s Bay families to enjoy.
Supreme Ham Award for Local Business
I visited Wild Game to congratulate them on claiming top honours at the 100 per cent New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards and bringing home the Supreme Ham Award for their Old School Pressed Ham.
I got to try some of that ham and some of their sausages and I can attest to the products deliciousness.
Well done Jordan and Varnah!
More housing for Flaxmere
It’s so exciting to see more housing developments starting in Flaxmere.
It was wonderful to join the TW Group, mana whenua and council for a blessing, which will see the start of hundreds of warm, affordable homes being built.
Flaxmere is on the up with a supermarket, senior housing and more developments underway.
This is a good example of Government, local council, iwi and the private sector working together to achieve great things for our region.
Gathering feedback from seniors across electorate
I love visiting all our retirement villages and this week I loved visiting Gracelands.
I had the pleasure of talking to the seniors at Gracelands Village about the recent government announcements which would impact them, as well as hearing about their issues and concerns.
Thank you for having me!
Supporting our vulnerable teens
I visited Flaxmere College’s Teen Parent Unit which has been helping teen parents continue their education while supporting the needs of both parents and children.
I was inspired by the work of Melanie and her team - unleashing opportunity for young women so they can reach their full potential.
They are positively changing lives for the better. Well done to Melanie and her team at Te Tipu Whenua o Pā Harakeke.
Coffee catch-up
I also caught up with a regular Tuesday coffee group in Havelock North and talked politics. It's so good to see so many engaged in what our government is doing!
Parly Ferns back on court
I loved getting back on the court for the Parly Ferns this year. We played the Press gallery last week and were raising money for the Welington City Mission.
It was definitely a tough game against the journalists who were feisty opponents. But I’m pleased to say that the Parly Ferns and MPs held their own and came out with the win. 27-17. I loved racing around the court as centre although suffice to say I am not as fit as I used to be! But always good to don the fern for a good cause.
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
More funding for maternal mental healthcare in Hawke's Bay
Hawke’s Bay women and families in need of specialist maternal mental health support during and after pregnancy, will soon have better access to care, following a government announcement around funding boost.
The funding is part of the government’s $4.9 million investment targeting four regions, including Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Mid-Central and Palmerston North.
In Hawke’s Bay the extra funding will support additional Senior Medical Officer capacity and clinical FTE as well as packages of care and two additional respite beds for mothers with more significant levels of distress, and their babies.
It will also fund intensive home-based care packages for those with higher needs. Evidence shows these measures make a significant difference for pregnant women, mothers, their babies, and families.
Bringing a new life into the world is such a special moment in a family’s life and early bonding is important. Many mothers need that extra support and the funding means more women can access the right care.
Transforming our national qualification
We are proposing to replace NCEA with a new national qualification which ensures young people have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
The national qualification will be underpinned by a new internationally comparable curriculum for Years 9–13, bringing structure and consistency clearly outlining what students should learn in each subject and when.
These changes will help New Zealand students build strong foundations for their futures.
What do you think? Have your say here: https://www.education.govt.nz/consultation-ncea
Making building cheaper
From 28 July thousands of additional building products including plasterboard, cladding systems, external doors, and windows will all be easier to use in construction sites across New Zealand.
It is 50 per cent more expensive to build a standalone home in New Zealand than in Australia. That is frankly outrageous.
These changes have the potential to reduce total building costs by thousands of dollars when building a home.
Banning surcharges
The Government is banning in-store payment surcharges, making everyday purchases more transparent. This move puts an end to annoying checkout surprises and helps ease the cost of living for New Zealanders.
The Retail Payment System (Ban on Surcharges) Amendment Bill will be introduced by the end of 2025, with the changes expected to come into force by May 2026.
The ban will apply to most in-store payments made using domestic Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, as well as EFTPOS.
No more crazy road cone mania!
We are getting rid of the 567-page Code that used to be used for temporary traffic management and road cones in NZ.
We’ve replaced this with a far smaller pragmatic guide that prioritises common sense.
We’ve seen good results on the state highway network and now we are making councils take a common-sense approach to road cones too.
A sensible Transport Minister making practical policy!
Farmer confidence at eight-year high
Farmer confidence has surged to the highest level in eight years - a clear sign of the resilience of New Zealand’s farmers and a sector leading the charge towards our goal of doubling export value in 10 years.
The latest Federated Farmers Confidence Survey shows a remarkable shift in sentiment, with confidence lifting from -66 per cent when the Government took office to +33 per cent this July.
This result reflects the hard work of 360,000 rural New Zealanders and a Government focused on backing the sector with smart and practical rules.
In the media